Nike/US Lacrosse Northeast Region Report

Player of the Week

Jake Sproule, Penfield (N.Y.)

After a season-opening 12-7 loss to Webster Thomas (N.Y.), the
Patriots came back with a defensive masterpiece against perennial
power West Genesee (N.Y.). The Wildcats (0-1) led 3-0 at halftime,
but did not score in the second half or either of the two
overtimes. The Patriots scored three goals in a three-minute span
in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime. Jake Sproule
sparked that comeback. The senior midfielder, who is headed to
Division III powerhouse Cortland, won 6 of 8 faceoffs and finished
with two goals. His second goal came with 1:27 left in the second
overtime to lift the Patriots. Sproule won the face-off, scooped up
the ground ball, and finished.

Game of the Week

Fordham Prep (N.Y.) at Chaminade (N.Y.),
April 1

In a match-up of two Top 10 teams, the Rams travel to take on
the Flyers on Tuesday. Villanova commit Sean Cerone, a senior
midfielder, leads the surging Flyers with seven goals and two
assists in two games. Senior midfielder Sam Bonafede (Princeton)
has three goals and an assist for Chaminade. Senior Matt Isnardi
has solidified the goaltending situation for the Flyers, combining
to make 19 saves in the two wins. He is committed to Army. Fordham
Prep is riding high after opening the season with three wins at the
Jesuit Lacrosse Classic, including a 7-6 win over D.C. powerhouse
Gonzaga (D.C.). Chaminade opens its 2013 season with an 8-0 win
over the Rams.

Northeast Region Top 10

1. Smithtown West (N.Y.), 4-0Smithtown West earned a 13-6 win
over Half Hollow Hills West (N.Y.) and 14-7 victory over Connetquot
(N.Y.) to cap a perfect week. Christian Zawadzki totaled eight
goals and one assist in the two wins. Ryan Keenan added six goals
and nine assists to help keep Smithtown West undefeated.

2. Chaminade (N.Y.), 2-0
After defeating last season's No. 1 Ward Melville 10-5 to open the
season, Chaminade earned a 7-4 victory over last week's No. 1
Massapequa. Sean Cerrone continued his early season brilliance with
four goals. Cerrone, a senior midfielder, has signed to play at
Villanova. Matthew Insardi stopped 10 shots for the win and Thomas
O'Connell added one goal and one assist.

3. Garden City (N.Y.), 2-1Cody George scored four goals,
including the winner with 2:39 left in the third overtime, to lift
Garden City to a dramatic 6-5 win over Massapequa, the previous
week's No. 1 team and the defending Class A Nassau champion. Kieran
Byrnes, who finished with three assists, assisted on the
game-winner.

4. Manhasset (N.Y.), 1-0The Indians opened the season with
an 11-8 win over Syosset (N.Y.). Henry Griffith finished with five
goals and two assists and Tyler Dunn added four goals for
Manhasset. John Paul Young recorded 11 saves for the
win.

5. Darien (Conn.), 0-0
The Blue Wave look to rebound this season after a down year, but
Darien should benefit from a strong returning core of 33 players,
including 12 who started at some point last season.

6. Massapequa (N.Y.), 2-2The Chiefs, who were ranked No. 1
last week, dropped close decisions to Chaminade and Garden City.
The Chiefs look to rebound on Wednesday when they host Oceanside
(N.Y.).

7. Fordham Prep (N.Y.), 3-0Coming off their first ever 3-0
showing at the Jesuit Lacrosse Classic, the Rams must now prepare
for a showdown with top-ranked Chaminade on Tuesday.

8. Ward Melville (N.Y.), 2-1The defending Class A state
champions rebounded from a season-opening loss to now top-ranked
Chaminade with wins over Sachem East (N.Y.) and Bay Shore (N.Y.).
The Patriots beat Sachem East, 14-8, and defeated Bay Shore, 13-5.
Jake McCulloch finished with six goals and four assists and Danny
Bucaro added six goals and five assists in the two wins for the
Patriots.

9. Niskayuna (N.Y.), 0-0The Warriors start their season
Tuesday with a game against Saratoga Springs (N.Y.).

10. Jamesville-DeWitt (N.Y.), 1-0Despite losing Jordan Evans
(Syracuse) to graduation, the Red Rams showed they still have
plenty of offensive fire power in a 21-3 season-opening win over
Chittenango (N.Y.). Senior Griffin Feiner, who is headed to
Hartford, finished with three goals as 12 different J-D players
scored.

Notes

The defending Class C state champion, Cazenovia Central (N.Y.),
lost both Connor Cannizzaro (Maryland) and Ryan Cook to graduation
on the attack. But the Lakers seemed poised for another postseason
run as they opened the season with a 16-8 win over traditional
power Syracuse Christian Brothers Academy (N.Y.). Sophomore Cole
Williard finished with five goals and two assists for
Cazenovia.

***

Carthage (N.Y.) used a decisive 12-goal run to deliver coach
Kirk Ventiquattro his 400th career win. Carthage defeated Salmon
River (N.Y.), 15-3, to open the season. It was also the 400th win
in program history as Ventiquattro is the only coach in program
history. He is now 400-101 in 26 years.

***

The Rochester-area game between West Genesee and Penfield on
Saturday was about more than lacrosse. The two teams used the game
as a fundraiser for West Genesee modified coach Joe Adams, who is
battling brain cancer. Adams was a college teammate of Penfield
varsity coach John Schembri at SUNY Cortland. And while the
Patriots earned a hard-fought 4-3 double-overtime victory, Schembri
was more proud of the fact that his team helped raise more than
$800 for Adams' medical expenses. You can donate to Adams' medical fund here.